With new opportunity as Colts LB, Harrison makes a splash
INDIANAPOLIS — Ronnie Harrison never stopped working.
His NFL career was in limbo over the offseason — the 2018 third-round pick out of Alabama had played three years with 45 starts as a safety with Jacksonville and Cleveland but wasn’t getting any calls throughout the summer as a free agent.
“I was down this past year in the offseason,” Harrison said. “Nobody wanted to sign me, nobody was calling me.”
Harrison didn’t sulk, though. He finished his degree in business administration at Alabama and trained in Atlanta in anticipation for a call — one that eventually came from the Colts in August.
Harrison got an invitation to the Colts’ training camp with one caveat: Indianapolis wanted him to make a move from strong safety to linebacker. Since that call, Harrison, who was released from training camp then signed to the Colts’ practice squad, has been slowly learning his new position.
“It’s been a big challenge for me, but it’s not too much different,” Harrison said. “Playing safety and playing linebacker is kind of the same thing, but it’s just a different position doing different stuff, but I kind of do the same job as I would do at safety, so it’s been good for me.”
On the practice squad, Harrison watched linebackers Zaire Franklin, E.J. Speed and Shaquille Leonard in practice, soaking in everything he could. Franklin especially took the safetyturned-linebacker under his wing, making sure he was adjusting well.
This week, Harrison’s work came to fruition. On Tuesday, he got the call that he was being added to the active roster. Not only that, he was going to play significant snaps.
Harrison was added to the active roster in place of Leonard, a three-time AllPro and captain who was surprisingly released from the roster on Tuesday.
“I didn’t see the Shaq situation coming, I didn’t even know I’d be up this week, but I just stuck with it every day,” Harrison said. “Every day I come to practice, I just try to work hard. Coach is always on me, I watch extra film, I do extra stuff on my own, so I just try to prepare and be a pro.”
Leonard, who was working back from two back surgeries this season and pushing for more playing time, was not as effective as the Colts hoped this season, leading to his midseason release. Indianapolis played a tribute video for Leonard, who pumped up the crowd while watching the game from a suite.
“I’m happy he got the celebration and the farewell that he deserved,” Franklin said of Leonard. “He’s got bigger and better deals in the future for sure.”
Two plays after Leonard pumped up the crowd, Harrison made his first splash for the Colts. Harrison picked off Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, returning the ball nine yards to the Bucs’ 41-yard line.
“First of all, ball hawk,” Franklin said. “He’s not a rookie. He’s played, he’s made plays at this level, so I already knew he was capable. I told him from the beginning, ‘Man, you are here with me. I’ve got your back no matter what. Just trust yourself and go get it.’ He saw I had the receiver and he made a play on the ball, and that was a hell of a play.”
For Harrison, tracking the quarterback is in his veins.
Harrison played quarterback through most of his youth football days — he didn’t start playing defense until his sophomore year of high school football at Florida State University School. He played both sides of the ball throughout the rest of his prep career.
It also helped that he was facing Mayfield, his former quarterback in Cleveland.
“I just know what the quarterback is thinking,” Harrison said. “The different situations he’s looking for, his body language.”
Harrison’s interception led to a touchdown from running back Jonathan Taylor — a difference-maker in the Colts’ 27-20 victory over the Buccaneers.
“It’s huge, getting in the system, learning the system, and then getting a lot of action out there today, and then coming up with that pick,” head coach Shane Steichen said “That came from preparation, guys were wired up on that play. Everyone was calling it out, and it was awesome to see.”